National Desk
12 July
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the Haryana government on its decision to close the highway at the Shambhu border near Ambala. The court directed the state to remove the barricades placed at the border. Farmers have been camped at the Shambhu border since February 13, demanding various reforms, including a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
The Sanyuktha Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had announced a march to Delhi, leading the Haryana government to barricade the Ambala-New Delhi National Highway. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuiyan expressed concern over the highway closure after the Haryana government’s counsel stated they were appealing the High Court’s July 10 order to open the highway within seven days.
Justice Ujjal Bhuiyan questioned how a state could block a highway, emphasizing that it is the state’s duty to manage traffic and maintain order. The bench insisted the highway be opened while ensuring control over the situation.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier ruled that the peaceful situation at Shambhu did not justify stopping the farmers. The court upheld the farmers’ right to protest, allowing them to enter Haryana. Local businessmen had approached the High Court to seek the reopening of the border due to the ongoing protests. Around 400 farmers from various parts of Punjab continue to camp at the Shambhu border.